Shakespeare Survey: Volume 58 - Writing about Shakespeare ()

In this review of Shakespeare Survey: Volume 58 the reviewer finds a focused, scholarly yearbook that will appeal to readers wanting rigorous essays linking criticism and performance. Edited within the long-running Survey series, Volume 58 gathers essays that illuminate how writers and critics approach Shakespeare, and the single biggest reason to buy is its combination of accessible scholarship and a persistent interest in performance that makes individual pieces useful both for classroom reading and for researchers seeking contemporary responses to staging and interpretation.

Key Features

• Annual, themed collection: Each volume concentrates on a theme, and Volume 58 collects essays specifically about writing and critical approaches to Shakespeare, which helps readers explore a single critical question in depth.
• High scholarly quality: Survey has published international scholarship since 1948, and this volume continues that tradition with essays that are referenced and suitable for academic use.
• Performance focus: Essays pay attention to performances from Shakespeare's time to the present, offering useful connections between text and stage for directors and students.
• Illustrated content: The book includes Shakespearean images and production photographs that complement the essays and provide visual context for theatrical discussion.
• Useful reviews section: Each volume includes reviews of the year's textual and critical studies plus major British performances, saving readers time by summarizing recent scholarship and staging trends.
• Paperback reissue availability: Back numbers are being reissued in paperback, making this volume accessible to those who need a durable but affordable reference.

Who It's For

This volume best suits university students, lecturers, and independent scholars who need a compact, themed collection of contemporary criticism with a clear eye to performance history. Those preparing seminar reading lists or researching how recent critics write about particular plays will find the essays especially practical.

General readers seeking a light introduction to Shakespeare should look elsewhere: the content assumes some prior familiarity with critical debates and theatre history. Librarians building a literature or criticism collection will value Volume 58 as a stable reference in a broader Survey run.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Authoritative essays uphold the Survey series' reputation for accessible scholarship across international contributors.
• Performance-oriented material links criticism to staging, aiding researchers and practitioners.
• Illustrations and reviews section add researched context beyond standalone essays.

Cons

• Not an introductory primer; readers without background in criticism or theatre studies may find some essays dense.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Shakespeare Survey: Volume 58 is a strong purchase for students and scholars who want theme-driven essays that connect criticism with performance. Its illustrated pages and curated reviews give sustained context for contemporary debates, making it good value as a teaching or research resource even if it is not aimed at casual readers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this volume suitable for classroom use?
Yes; the essays and reviews are well suited to seminars and reading lists where thematic focus and performance links are useful.

Does the volume include images?
Yes; it contains a variety of Shakespearean images and production photographs to support the text.

Are older Survey volumes available?
Yes; most volumes have been out of print but back numbers are gradually being reissued in paperback.